But the corporation has denied responsibility, pointing the finger at evaporation and regular maintenance by Parks Victoria.

Edithvale mother Crissene Fawcett said she was appalled to discover on Friday that her son Cal's Sailability session had been cancelled after a participant had earlier become grounded in the shallow water.

''My son has got an intellectual disability and he has been sailing for about three or four years now, he absolutely loves it,'' she said. ''The explanation I got was that there was insufficient water for sailing because it was being used by the Grand Prix Corporation.''

Albert Park Sailability co-ordinator Gavin Hall said the lake had dropped to as low as 40 centimetres. ''We are really struggling to sail,'' he said. ''The two sailing clubs and the boat shed are all looking at having to move off the lake.''

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The Grand Prix Corporation has been under fire before over the practice of drawing water when lake levels are low. In 2007, the corporation switched from using drinking water to water drawn from the lake to create grassy trackside verges for driver safety. A dry summer has again left the corporation needing to irrigate.

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But Ms Fawcett said the community shouldn't have to suffer another blow to prop up the grand prix. ''We are already massively subsidising the corporation and now they are taking the water from the lake as well,'' she said. ''It's a completely wrong and cavalier way to treat Albert Park Lake.''

Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott said the corporation, which has been using the lake's water since mid-January, uses only a very small proportion compared with what evaporates.

He doesn't believe the amount is likely to keep the sailing clubs stranded.

''It is around 2 per cent of the total level that has dropped, it is an absolute minority.''

Mr Westacott said the corporation had a responsibility to raise the level of presentation to that expected of such a major event. ''This is the most logical and appropriate place to draw water from.''

A Parks Victoria spokesman said Albert Park Lake was reliant on stormwater and limited rainfall over the past few months meant lake levels were lower than would usually be the case.

''Evaporation is the major cause of the lower water levels,'' he said. ''The water used by the Grand Prix Corporation is minimal and not a contributing factor. We sympathise with all lake users during this dry spell.''